Casey ace has Europe flying

Paul Casey produced the greatest finish to any Ryder Cup game in history today - with a hole-in-one.

It was only the fifth ace the contest has ever seen and all of them have been by European players.

Five up with five to play partnering David Howell against Stewart Cink and Zach Johnson, Casey pulled out a four iron – against his captain Ian Woosnam’s advice – and watched as it landed right on line and just made it to the hole.

It put Europe 9 1/2-4 1/2 ahead with two foursomes still on the course.

Opponent Cink did not even need to try to match it. Casey’s shot ended the match there and then because all they needed was a half.

Casey follows fellow Englishmen Peter Butler, Nick Faldo and Howard Clark and also Italian Costantino Rocca. Clark and Rocca achieved their at Oak Hill in 1995, Faldo at The Belfry in 1993 and Butler at Muirfield in 1973.

“Woosie did tell me what the guys had hit, so I pulled out a different club because I thought he was wrong,” joked Casey, who last Sunday won the £1million World Match Play at Wentworth.

“It was obviously the perfect club.”

Howell added: “I quite ejoyed watching that. What a moment.”